The world around us often seems to move at a breakneck pace. This includes the music industry, where dozens of indistinguishable records are released every week. So sometimes it’s nice to stop and listen to the musical roses.
In this case, Peter Silbermann’s new EP “Transcendless Summer” is the perfect bouquet to cleanse the metaphorical palate.
“Transcendless Summer” is a new 20-minute instrumental record from Silberman, the creative mind behind acclaimed indie rock band The Antlers. It’s a soothing, minimalist affair reportedly recorded over just a single particularly prolific afternoon.
Silberman plays to his strengths on the album, harnessing The Antlers dreamy aesthetic in five concentrated tracks. The Antlers’ discography is filled with works that rely on affecting lyrics that form a clear concept, but this is not the case on Silberman’s solo EP. “Transcendless Summer” relies on the nuances within its humble sound to stir feelings within the listener.
The titles of the tracks mirror their contents, relishing in modesty with titles such as “i,” “ii,” “iii” and so on.
The opening track “i” is a display of the unobtrusive and often overlooked genre of ambient music. Life is breathed into empty space as the track is illuminated with the long ringing chords of an electric organ. The song is a light and airy eight minutes that shows restraint with it’s production, closing with a roaring wind-like background sound that leads into the next track.
This wind is present throughout most of the EP and provides the background to more obvious instrumentation and loosely wraps each song together with a wispy finesse. Silberman flexes his artistic muscles with these sort of distinctions that end to being the key ingredient to the EP’s allure.
Tracks “ii” and “iii” bring a bit more action to the record’s atmosphere without ruining the serene, ambient tone already established. On “ii” an electronic pitter patter enters the scene, bringing to mind the visual of a wayward radio signal bouncing around space. Jangly guitars meander carelessly through “iii.” “iv” returns “Transcendless Summer” to it’s most simple and mellow form before Silberman chimes in with the only words of the entire record, letting his audience know the show is over with a casual, “Uhh yeah, that’s it.”
“Transcendless Summer” isn’t the busiest EP. It won’t blow the speakers out with large “bass driven” beats or stick in the listeners’ heads with a catchy manufactured hook. Its quiet, peaceful, and only 20 minutes long. But that doesn’t make it glorified background music.
Listening with an attentive ear lets you appreciate it best. Listeners are able to notice every small sound and are able to let the mind form the imagery and exist in the moment. Sometimes we just need a breath of fresh air.
